Turnbuckle wrench

ABSTRACT

A turnbuckle wrench is disclosed which is constituted by an elongated slotted body. Formed on each side wall of the slot below the outer edges thereof and extending longitudinally in the slot space are resilient retaining means, the free surfaces of which are spaced apart to engage and hold a turnbuckle link.

United States Patent [191 Itano Nov. 20, 1973 TURNBUCKLE WRENCH Prima Examiner0thell M. Sim son 11 Ch 1|. P [75] mlvnvY-egtpr I??? Wag) 7 I 7 Assistant Examiner-James G. Smith [73] Assignee: Waldon Devices Inc.,Wilmette, lll. An m M D0u ll, H rsh & S tt [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1972 pp BIO-120,856 [57] ABSTRACT A turnbuckle wrench is disclosed which is constituted 52 us. Cl. 81/119 by an elongated slotted body Formed on each side of the Slot below the Outer edges thereof and [58] Fleld of Search 81/90 90 tending longitudinally in the slot space are resilient re- 81/119 1316' 7 taining means, the free surfaces of which are spaced [56] R f ences cud apart to engage and hold a turnbuckle link.

e er 1 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures TURNBUCKLE WRENCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improvements in turning devices. More specifically, it relates to an improved turnbuckle wrench.

In US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 113,569 filed Feb. 8, 1971 by Henry E. Greene, Jr. for a Turnbuckle Wrench and assigned to the same assignee as in this application, there is disclosed and claimed a turnbuckle wrench having a slotted body having retaining elements on the upper edges of the slot. I have found that while a turnbuckle wrench as disclosed in that application is capable of achieving the objectives therein stated, its performance and reliability can be improved.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved turnbuckle wrench, which while economical to fabricate, is effective when utilized and is capable of relatively long life.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved turnbuckle wrench which may accommodate a wide range of turnbuckle sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention achieves the foregoing and other objectives by providing a cylindrical body having a slot formed therein coextensive with its longitudinal axis. Resilient deformable retaining means are formed on each side of the slot below the upper edges thereof to engage and retain the link of a turnbuckle when it is desired to rotate the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention itself is set forth in the claims appended hereto and forming a part of this description while the structure and operation of various embodiments may be understood from the description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a turnbuckle wrench in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the wrench of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in section of the wrench of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a wrench in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view partially in section of the wrench of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is an end view of the wrench of FIG. 5; and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the wrench of FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown a wrench comprising a substantially cylindrical body 2 formed by molding or casting or machining a metallic, plastic or hard rubber material having the qualities of strength, rigidity, lightness of weight and durability. The body is formed with a slot 4 extending the length thereof. The slot 4 opens into the body so as to form a body opening 6. Formed within the body opening 6 on each of the side walls thereof are retaining elements 8 which include a plurality of longitudinal parallel projecting portions. The projecting portions 10 extend perpendicularly from the side walls toward the center of the opening 6 and, as may be seen in the drawings, ex-

tend lengthwise over a portion of the length of the body opening.

A turnbuckle, which as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, consists of a link 12 having a lengthwise opening 14 and threaded openings at its ends. Threaded into the end openings are a pair of holding elements 16 which may be provided with eyes 18 at their ends to be secured to elements desired to be held in a fixed position with respect to each other.

When a turnbuckle link is inserted through the slot 4, it is inserted with one of its sides facing downwardly toward the bottom of the opening 6. When so inserted, at least one of the projections 10 will engage in the opening 14 of the link 12 to positively hold the link against lateral displacement and against moving out of that opening. For this purpose the projections 10 are formed of a resilient deformable material so that as a link is inserted into the wrench each projection will deform as a side of the link passes thereover, and then resume its original position within the opening of the link to retain it. Depending on the dimensions of a particular turnbuckle link, one or more of the projections will engage in the link opening so that a positive holding means is provided for a wide range of link sizes.

A link so inserted in the wrench may be either tightened or loosened by gripping the body and rotating it in the desired directions.

As may be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exterior surface of the body may be provided with a corrugated surface 20 to facilitate gripping and rotation of the wrench. The particular surface shown is by way of exemplification only, for any desired gripping surface may be formed on the exterior of the body. The gripping surface may be formed by molding it integrally with the body or it may be formed on a thin sheet of plastic or rubber material and secured to the body by a suitable adhesive.

In addition to functioning as a turnbuckle wrench, the wrench may also be used to tighten or loosen wing nuts. This capability is provided by forming a notch 22 at one end of the body diametrically opposite from the slot 4. The wrench may be applied to the wing nut so that the wings of the nut are inserted into the slot 22. The wrench becomes a short lever, rotated on the attaching element and tightening or loosening the wing nut.

FIGS. 5 through 9 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a resilient body 2' is formed with a slot 4' extending the length thereof. Rubber or flexible plastic would be an appropriate material. In this embodiment the slot 4' provides access to the body opening 6'. Formed in the body opening 6' on each side wall thereof are projecting portions 8' which are positioned in the middle of the body opening and extend over a portion of the length thereof. The upper edges of the sides of the body opening are provided with confronting retaining elements or lips 10' which extend inwardly over the projections 8'.

The link of a turnbuckle which is to be either tightened or loosened is inserted into the opening 6 through the slot 4' so that its sides are engaged and held by the projections 8'. The body may then be gripped by the hand and rotated to tighten or loosen the turnbuckle as desired. Because the projections 8' extend substantially over the entire height of the side walls of the opening 6 and are dimensioned to project into that opening they will engage and retain by a friction fit a wide range of turnbuckle link sizes.

As with the first embodiment, a notch 22 may be provided diametrically opposite from the slot 4 whereby a wing nut may be tightened or loosened by inserting the wings into the slot 4 and threaded attaching element into the notch 22'.

A gripping surface may be provided on the exterior of the body 2 in the same fashion as with the first embodiment. If desired, an arcuate band 24' may be provided to partially encompass the body adjacent the center thereof to resist any tendency of the body to deform outwardly or open the body opening wider when a turnbuckle link is inserted therein.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the scope thereof and it is intended by the claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A turnbuckle wrench comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal slot open on one side of said body and providing an opening extending into said body and provided with spaced apart side walls, retaining means projecting outwardly from said side walls and extending along the middle portion of said opening to engage and hold the link of a turnbuckle whereby it may be rotated to tighten or loosen the turnbuckle.

2. A turnbuckle wrench as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means extend upwardly on said wall to a line below the outer edges of said slot.

3. A turnbuckle wrench as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retaining means are provided on each said side wall of said body.

4. A turnbuckle wrench as set forth in claim 3 wherein said retaining means is constituted by a raised portion on each said wall.

5. A turnbuckle wrench as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said retaining means includes a plurality of spaced parallel projections extending longitudinally in said body and substantially perpendicularly from a side wall.

6. A turnbuckle wrench comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal slot opened on one side of said body and providing an opening extending into said body with spaced apart side walls, retaining means comprising a plurality of spaced parallel projections formed on each side wall extending longitudinally in said body and substantially perpendicularly from said side wall toward each other to engage and hold the link of a turnbuckle whereby it may be rotated to be tightened or loosened, and a gripping surface formed on the exterior of said elongated body. 

1. A turnbuckle wrench comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal slot open on one side of said body and providing an opening extending into said body and provided with spaced apart side walls, retaining means projecting outwardly from said side walls and extending along the middle portion of said opening to engage and hold the link of a turnbuckle whereby it may be rotated to tighten or loosen the turnbuckle.
 2. A turnbuckle wrench as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means extend upwardly on said wall to a line below the outer edges of said slot.
 3. A turnbuckle wrench as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retaining means are provided on each said side wall of said body.
 4. A turnbuckle wrench as set forth in claim 3 wherein said retaining means is constituted by a raised portion on each said wall.
 5. A turnbuckle wrench as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said retaining means includes a plurality of spaced parallel projections extending longitudinally in said body and substantially perpendicularly from a side wall.
 6. A turnbuckle wrench comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal slot opened on one side of said body and providing an opening extending into said body with spaced apart side walls, retaining means comprising a plurality of spaced parallel projections formed on each side wall extending longitudinally in said body and substantially perpendicularly from said side wall toward each other to engage and hold the link of a turnbuckle whereby it may be rotated to be tightened or loosened, and a gripping surface formed on the exterior of said elongated body. 